Animal shelter needs 300 adopts in next three weeks

In order for the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter to receive a $100,000 grant, more than 300 cats and dogs must be adopted from the facility within the next three weeks.

The shelter is competing in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Rachael Ray $100,000 Challenge, a three-month competition between 50 animal shelters nationwide, according to a press release. With an objective of finding homes for more animals this year than during the same period in 2011 for each competing shelter, the $100,000 grand prize will be awarded to the shelter recording the most adoptions.

A total of $500,000 will be awarded in various categories, including the Community Engagement award.

The deadline is Oct. 31.

In order to be eligible for prize money, the shelter must complete a minimum of 300 more adoptions than during the same three months last year, according to the release. In 2011, 757 animals were adopted from the facility, so at least 1057 adoptions are required this year to be eligible.

The shelter is currently at 847.

In order to increase adoptions as the deadline looms, all cat and kitten adoption fees will be waived on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout October, according to the release. This is an extension of the shelter’s regular Free Feline Fridays offer.

Throughout the week, all dog adoption fees will cost $40 and $20 on Saturdays until Oct. 26, when the “Howl-o-Ween” Adopt-a-Thon launches.

During this final push, all feline adoption fees will be waived and all dog adoption fees will be $20 until Oct. 31.
 
— Mark Keierleber